Upcoming Comics: March 2, 2016

The Oscar’s were last night, and if you follow Batman-News on Twitter, then you basically got a play-by-play of every time Batman actor (past or present) was on stage thanks to Chris. I’m not going to lie, I was tempted to turn it into a drinking game, but decided I wanted to stay sober last night… There was one AMAZING thing about last night, but it wasn’t from the award show (which I thought was “meh” if you’re wondering). If you happened to tune in to Jimmy Kimmel’s post Oscar show, then you were treated to this little gem!

I enjoyed that way more than I probably should have, but I considered it the highlight of the night!

Alright, on to business! This week’s releases are listed in order of what I’m most excited to read, to what I’m least excited to read. For each title, I’ll include the official solicitation, the talent credits, more of my randomness, and the Batman News team member that will be reviewing each book. After that, you’ll find a poll for this week’s best cover! Should you have trouble picking one cover, no worries! The poll is open so you can select as many covers as you’d like. Then, as always, you’ll find graphic novels scheduled for release this week, along with their cover as well (note: graphic novel covers will not be included in the poll for best cover). And of course, I (we) want to hear from you in the comments section! What titles are you picking up? What do you hope to see? And what are your thoughts about the order of my list? So, without further ado…

 

March 2^nd

Batman & Robin Eternal #22
Damian Wayne arrives to tell the rest of the Robins the truth about Batman. Harper and Cassandra are the prisoners of Mother, but will they kill each other before Mother even has a chance?

Written by Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, and Genevieve Valentine
Pencils and Inks by Fernando Blanco
Cover by Romulo Fajardo, Jr., Carlo Pagulayan, and Jason Paz

Random Blurb of Excitement: There are five issues left, including this issue, and I can’t wait to see how the team close out this title! This issue’s script is also penned by Genevieve Valentine, so that’s another reason to be excited! Considering everything that has taken place so far, it’ll be nice to take a moment to slow the momentum and really analyze the characters and their situation – something Valentine does incredibly well – before wrapping the series with a bang. Also… Damian has now entered the story!

Batman-News Critic: Brandon

 

 

Injustice: Gods Among Us Year 5 #5
A major rift develops between Batman and Catwoman as she questions how his use of villains in the Insurgency makes him any better than Superman. Meanwhile, Bizarro takes on a bunch of bad guys, and Raven finally makes her return. But is she back to help Superman, or does she have another agenda?

Art by Juan Albarran, Mike S. Miller, and Bruno Redondo
Cover by David Yardin
Written by Brian Buccellato

Random Blurb of Excitement: Buccellato is killing it at the moment! This is BY FAR, his best work on Injustice since he took over from Tom Taylor, and it’s been an absolute pleasure to read! He’s also doing a damn good job with his Deadshot mini at the moment, as well! Now he just needs to hold at this quality, and he’ll end his run on a high note! If you dropped Injustice, you should consider picking it back up!

Batman-News Critic: Elena

 

 

Midnighter #10
It’s Midnighter versus the Suicide Squad, round two-unfortunately, Parasite came very, very prepared! Have they found a way to set a trap from which Midnighter can’t think his way out?

Written by Steve Orlando
Pencils and Inks by ACO and Hugo Petrus
Colored by Romulo Fajardo, Jr.
Cover by ACO and Romulo Fajardo, Jr.

Random Blurb of Excitement: I love this book and character! I think anyone who frequents the site knows that, so I bet you know that I’m a little disappointed that there’s no sign of the character continuing in June. I’m hoping he gets thrown into a team title (perhaps Red Hood & the Outlaws… unless Lobdell is writing the title, then I’d rather see M disappear for a little while), but we’ll have to wait and see. For the moment, I’m going to enjoy every page of Midnighter that I can! As for this arc, it’s been fun so far, but Orlando has shown a weakness in his villains. That’s honestly my only hang-up with this book at the moment.

Batman-News Critic: Josh

 

 

Batman ’66 Meets the Man From U.N.C.L.E. #4
T.H.R.U.S.H.’s mysterious new leader puts Batman, Robin, Solo and Kuryakin in the ultimate death trap—a deserted island filled with deadly devices engineered by the likes of Poison Ivy and Scarecrow. Robbed of all of their gadgets, how will our crime-fighting castaways ever make it home alive?

Art by Karl Kesel and David Hahn
Cover by Mike Allred
Written by Jeff Parker

Random Blurb of Excitement: If you ever want or need a fun read, the Batman ’66 titles are as close as you can get to guaranteeing that you’ll enjoy yourself! There haven’t been any announcements concerning any Digital First titles at the time of the Rebirth launch, but I’m hoping that DC continues the ’66 brand in some type of format. It’ll be a huge loss if they don’t!

Batman-News Critic: Jay

 

 

Bombshells #10
While Lex Luthor continues to manipulate events behind the scenes, Kate Kane remains in the clutches of the Nazi Edel Nacht, who lays out his plans for world conquest. The inexperienced Huntress is determined to go rescue her, with or without Catwoman’s help. And Zatanna makes plans to cause trouble in the outside world, even as she remains imprisoned in the Joker’s Daughter’s cabaret.

Written by Marguerite Bennett
Art by Marguerite Sauvage and Laura Braga
Cover by Ant Lucia

Random Blurb of Excitement: I repeat myself pretty consistently, but this is a fun book! The team behind it does a great job of altering characters we know and live to fit this time period, and manage to tie in a lot of historical elements. This book is a success, and isn’t just for women! There aren’t enough people talking about this book to the extent that it deserves! Give it a read if you haven’t taken the time to check it out! The first trade is being released this week, so it’s a perfect time to jump on board!

Batman News Critic: Elena

 

 

Batman Beyond #10
Captured by the Splicers, Batman is set to become the latest guinea pig in their DNA experiments! His only hope may be the very thing that got him into this mess, as Matt’s investigations into history’s greatest heroes—long thought dead in the war with Brother Eye—finally bears fruit: enter the Justice League Beyond!

Written by Dan Jurgens
Pencils and Inks by Bernard Chang
Colored by Marcelo Maiolo
Cover by Ellery Santos and Philip Tan

Random Blurb of Excitement: The last two issues have really elevated this book, and it feels as though it has finally found it’s footing. The potential negative, is that there’s no telling what will happen in June. We know we’re getting a Batman Beyond book, but will it continue to follow Tim, or will DC revert back to Terry? Either way, I’m going to enjoy whatever Jurgens has up his sleeve.

Batman-News Critic: Cat

 

 

Batgirl #49
To unravel the secret of Batgirl’s bizarre new nemesis, her friends must travel to strange and uncharted territory: the inside of Barbara Gordon’s spectacular mind!

Written by Brenden Fletcher and Cameron Stewart
Pencils and Inks by Babs Tarr
Colored by Serge Lapointe
Cover by Babs Tarr

Random Blurb of Excitement: If this team continues to write Batgirl or Batgirl & the Birds of Prey with the Rebirth launch, I’m going to troll Dan Didio’s Twitter each week until there’s a creative change… Fletcher and Stewart have transitioned Barbara Gordon from being one of the strongest female characters in comics, to someone who will most likely be on MTV’s Teen Mom. She’s basically the Kim Kardashian/ Paris Hilton of comics now… If these guys wanted to do that to someone, they should’ve taken advantage of Stephanie Brown rather than tearing and dumbing down Babs the way that they have…

Batman-News Critic: Elena

 

 

Notes:

• Black Canary #9 has been pushed back to March 9^th.
• Justice League of America #8 has been pushed back to March 23^rd.
• The Dark Knight Returns: The Last Crusade #1 has been pushed back to April 20^th.
• Justice League: Darkseid War Special #1 has been pushed back to March 23^rd.
• Cover Poll Note: Next week I will include cover polls for January Variants, February Variants, and the February Neal Adams Themed Variants.

 

 

Graphic Novel Watch:

Black Canary Vol. 1: Kicking & Screaming – Spinning out of the pages of BATGIRL, writer Brenden Fletcher (BATGIRL) and artists Annie Wu (Hawkeye) and Pia Guerra (Y: THE LAST MAN) present a fresh new take on one of DC Comics’ fiercest female characters.

Former crime fighter Dinah Lance is tearing up the music scene fronting the recently rechristened four-piece band Black Canary. Now using the alias D.D., Dinah and her one-of-a-kind voice are rocketing the band to stardom. But Black Canary has somehow become a magnet for trouble-their shows ending in brawls more often than not. If the group can’t shake the violence following them, their fame-and their lives-might be cut short.

To keep the band safe, the vigilante-turned-vocalist will have to face off against government agents, shadow-monsters, ninjas and one ticked off former lead singer!

Collects BLACK CANARY #1-7 and DC SNEAK PEEK: BLACK CANARY #1.

 

Bombshells Vol. 1: Enlisted – The incredibly popular DC Collectibles line is brought to life in these stories that reimagine the course of history!

As Word War II rages across Europe, the Allied forces issue a call to arms for the greatest heroines the world has ever known: THE BOMBSHELLS!

KATE KANE, the all-American Batwoman; DIANA OF THEMYSCIRA, warrior Princess of the Amazons; KARA STARIKOV and KORTNI DUGINOVNA, defenders of Mother Russia; and MERA, royal daughter of the legendary Atlantis! With aid from their allies at home and abroad, these mighty women will turn the tide of war and defend those inviolable rights of Truth, Justice and Freedom.

From writer Marguerite Bennett (BATGIRL, EARTH 2: WORLD’S END) and featuring artists including Marguerite Sauvage (HINTERKIND), Laura Braga (Witchblade), Bilquis Evely (Doc Savage), Mirka Andolfo (Chaos) and Ming Doyle (CONSTANTINE: THE HELLBLAZER) comes DC COMICS: BOMBSHELLS VOL. 1: ENLISTED.

Collects DC COMICS: BOMBSHELLS #1-6.

 

Coloring DC: Batman – Hush Vol. 1 – DC Comics presents classic adventures in a whole new way: in black and white, on heavy stock suitable for coloring! This title collects the opening chapters of “Batman: Hush,” from BATMAN #608-611 and a story from Wizard #0, all featuring spectacular artwork by Jim Lee and Scott Williams!

 

Harley Quinn & Power Girl – Spinning out of the hit series HARLEY QUINN, this six-issue miniseries tells the story-within-the-story of the unlikely super-duo’s adventures in outer space!

Hey, remember the panel gutter between panels 3 and 4 of page 20 of HARLEY QUINN #12? What? You don’t? It’s only, like, the most memorable panel gutter of the twenty-first century! We’ll jog your memory—our heroes, Harley Quinn and Power Girl, were tossed through a teleportation ring, dropping them into galaxies unknown.

It’s a cosmic adventure beyond your wildest imaginings: Power Girl and Harley Quinn, stranded in a forgotten dimension, on the homeworld of the amorous warlord Vartox! They’ll sacrifice anything they have to in order to get home—except their dignity. Kidding! That’ll be the first thing to go.

HARLEY QUINN writers Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti are joined by artist Stephane Roux (BIRDS OF PREY) and writer Justin Gray (ALL-STAR WESTERN) for an unforgettable tale of friendship, romance and butt-kicking! Collects HARLEY QUINN AND POWER GIRL #1-6.

 

Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year One – The Complete Collection – Inspired by the video game phenomenon, INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US YEAR ONE-THE COMPLETE EDITION collects the initial year of the best-selling series in its entirety for the first time!

Superman is Earth’s greatest hero. But when the Man of Steel can’t protect the thing he holds most dear, he decides to stop trying to save the world-and start ruling it.

Now, the Last Son of Krypton is enforcing peace on Earth by any means necessary. Only one man stands between Superman and absolute power: Batman. And the Dark Knight will use any method at his disposal to stop his former friend from reshaping the world in his shattered image.

Written by Tom Taylor (EARTH 2) with art by Jheremy Raapack (RESIDENT EVIL), Mike S. Miller (A Game of Thrones) and more, this thrilling graphic novel collects INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US digital chapters 1-36 and in single magazine form as INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US 1-12 and INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US ANNUAL 1.

 

 

Cover of the Week:

Now, with all of this week’s releases listed above, it’s time for you to sound off! What’s the best cover that is being released this week? If you’re like me, and can’t decide on just one, then you can select multiple if you would like. Vote using the poll below, and we’ll announce the winner next week.

Last week’s results can be found in the spoiler tag.